Safety cleaning tanks

ABSTRACT

A cleaning tank featuring a safety cover having biasing means for automatic closing. A fusible link restrains the biasing means to enable the cover to remain open unless excessive ambient heat melts the link. When the link melts, the cover is automatically forced to close.

United States Patent lnventor Clarence E. Williams Chicago, Ill. Appl. No. 844,302 Filed July 24, 1969 Patented Oct. 19, 1971 Assignee Justrite Mfg., Co.

Chicago, Ill.

SAFETY CLEANING TANKS 9 Claims, 6 Drawing Figs.

US. Cl 220/88 R, 220/89 B Int. Cl B65d 25/00 Field of Search 220/88 R, 89 B; 169/4 [56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,267,069 12/ 1941 Anschicks 220/88 2,313,350 3/1943 Lebus 220/88 2,439,132 4/1948 Hatala et al... 220/88 2,770,390 11/1956 Lisciani 220/88 2,685,984 8/1954 Lisciani 220/88 R Primary Examiner-Raphael M. Schwartz Attorney-Alter, Weiss & Whitesel ABSTRACT: A cleaning tank featuring a safety cover having biasing means for automatic closing. A fusible link restrains the biasing means to enable the cover to remain open unless excessive ambient heat melts the link. When the link melts,

- the cover is automatically forced to close.

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INVENTO R CLARENCE E. WILLI AMS ATTORNEYS SAFETY CLEANING TANKS This invention relates to cleaning tanks such as those widely used for cleaning oil and the like from small parts; and more particularly to safety cleaning tanks equipped to automatically close to snuff out fires which may originate in the flammable liquidsused in the cleaning tanks.

As is well known, some of the most efficient liquids in use for cleaning small parts are flammable. It is often necessary to clean small parts; that is to degrease them or to prepare them for special coatings. Dip tanks are partially filled with a fluid which is most often flammable. The small parts are placed into a drain basket made of mesh material and the drain basket is thereafter placed within the cleaning tank so that its contents are dipped into the cleaning fluid. Thereafter the drain basket is removed and the parts therein are drained.

It is a continuous problem with the factories employing such cleaning tanks to assure that fires and explosions are prevented. To this end most cleaning tanks are equipped with covers which can be closed. In case a fire starts either within the tank or in the vicinity of the tank, the operator nearest to the tank closes the cover. Many times, however, the operator may not be present. He may have stepped over to his machine to fill another basket or be out to lunch, for example. Accordingly, the flammable fluids within the cleaning tank are often dangerously exposed, jeopardizing the lives and safety of those in the factory.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide safety cleaning tanks.

A related object is to provide a cleaning tank having a cover which automatically closes when the ambient heat in the vicinity of the cover rises excessively.

A further object of this invention is to provide a safety tank wherein the cover is normally biased to close, but for operational purposes means are provided for retaining the cover in an open position to enable the operator performing the cleaning operation to manipulate the drain basket within the tank; but, nonetheless to automatically close the cover of the tank if there is a fire in the tank and to thereby snuff out the fire.

Briefly an exemplary embodiment of this invention accomplishes these and other objects by means of a cleaning tank having a hinged cover thereon. At the hinged end of the cover, biasing means are provided which normally would force the cover to a closed position. The biasing means are neutralized; however, by a fusible link to enable the cover to remain open. The fusible link melts when the ambient temperature conditions rise excessively. When the fusible link melts the biasing means are made operational forcing the door to slam closed and thereby suffocating any flash fires which may occur or have initiated within the tank.

The above-mentioned and other features and objects of this invention and the manner of obtaining them will become more apparent and the invention will be best understood by reference in the following description of an embodiment of the invention taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. I shows a partial, cutaway side view of the safety tank of the invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the safety tank of FIG. 1 with the cover closed showing the biasing means centered at the hinged end of the safety tank;

FIG. 3 is a sectional view taken along line 3-3 of FIG. 2 looking in the direction of the arrows;

F1614 is a top view of the safety tank with the cover open;

FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view of the cover on the safety tank showing details of the exemplary biasing means; and

FIG. 6 is a view of the fusible link shown in FIG. 5 looking in the direction of arrow 6-6.

Wherever possible the same designation numbers are used throughout the drawings to simplify the description of the invention.

Turning now to these drawings, the numeral I0 indicates the inventive safety tank. The tank comprises a fluid receiving bottom or base portion 11 and a cover 12. The portion II can be of any shape such as circular or rectangular. The shape is not important. What is important is that it is designed to receive and contain therein a cleaning fluid, which is generally flammable. Small parts to be cleaned are dipped or washed within the flammable fluid by first being placed within a meshed drain basket such as drain basket 14. The cleaning tank further may have handles such as handle 16 to facilitate transporting the tank. In addition, the tank 10 may also be equipped with a base or foot portion 17. This base or foot portion 17 may comprise metallic strips or separate feet.

Means are provided for automatically closing the door. More particularly, an automatic closing mechanism 18 is shown attached to cover 12. A rod 19 which is part of the automatic closing mechanism extends rearwardly through a shroud 21 surrounding the automatic closing mechanism. A U-shaped support or bias bracket 22 is provided at the rear portion of the tank and immediately below the hinge 23 which attaches the cover to the tank. Hinge 23, it should be noted, extends the complete width of the tank. Of course, difference hinging means could be used.

As best seen in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3, the shroud 21 surrounding the automatic closing mechanism I8 is substantially U-shaped. The shroud extends from the rear of the cover 12 towards the front thereof and is located approximately in the center of the cover. Extending rod 19 extends through the shroud at the front and rear ends thereof. The shroud may be attached to the cover in any well-known manner such as by riveting or by welding. Thus, the shroud includes a pair of flanges 26, 27 which are contiguous to the cover for convenient assembly thereto and a raised U-shaped portion 28. Under the shroud is the actual automatic mechanism which is provided to close the cover in case of fire or like emergency.

The exemplary embodiment of the mechanism includes the rod 19, as best seen in FIG. 3, which slidably extends through front journal bracket 29 and through rear journal bracket 31. The front and rear journal brackets are L-shaped brackets having apertures therein for slidably receiving rod 19.

Means, such as spring 32, are provided for normally holding the rod in a rearwardly extending position. A rod extension control bracket 33 is fixedly attached to a position on the rod. The spring is mounted between rod extension control bracket 33 and front journal bracket 29 so that the rear end of the rod is positioned as shown at A in the dotted lines. With the rod extended outward to A", it presses against bracket 22 when the cover is open so as to force the cover into a biased position where gravity forces it to close.

Means are provided for holding the rod in a retracted position. More particularly fusible link 34 is provided. Fusible link 34 has a top aperture 36 and a bottom aperture 37. The top aperture fits around tongue 38 which is positioned approximately underneath the front journal bracket 29. The rod extension control 33 fits through the other aperture to cause the spring 32 to be in its retracted or compressed position between brackets 33 and 29. Since bracket 33 is fixedly attached to rod 19 by means such as pin 43, the rod is thus also moved into a retracted position extending on the front side of shroud 21. The fusible link 34 actually comprises two parts 34a and 34b joined together with a fusible material which melts, in one preferred embodiment at thereby enabling the spring to extend and to force the rod to rearwardly extended position where it forces the cover to ciose.

FIG. 4 shows the door in its open position in which it can be placed with fusible link 34 holding rod I9 in its retracted position. With the door open, it is possible to see the basket 14 located within tank It) surrounded by the walls 11 of the tank. The basket 14 is held in place within the liquid basket by any well-known means such as basket brackets 41. The basket I4 is equipped with centrally located handle means 42 which is shown in FIG. 4.

As best seen in FIG. 5, the closing mechanism 18 comprises the rod 19 having two possible positions. One position being when the link 34 holds the rod extension control tongue 33 at a position relatively close to tongue 38. As was mentioned, tongue 33 is fixedly placed on rod 19 with means such as pin 43. The tongue 33, of course, can be fixedly connected to rod 19 by other means such as by riveting. With the rod held in position as shown in FIG. 5, the cover 12 is held by gravity normal to bracket 22. As shown in FIG. 5, bracket 22 may be coupled to wall 11 of tank 10 through a second extension bracket 44. The hinge 23 is also coupled to extension bracket 33 through hinge wing 23a while the cover 12 is connected to the hinge by means of hinge wing 23b. The connection can be by threaded fasteners, or by any well-known means.

It should be noted that tongue 33 extends through an extended aperture 46 in cover 12. The aperture is groovelike and extends from bracket 31 towards bracket 29. Thus, tongue 33 moves in aperture 46 when the link melts enabling rod 19 to assume its normally rearwardly extended position thereby forcing the cover to rotate around hinge 23 so that gravity pulls it down to cover the top of tank 10. Thereby, the tank is automatically covered in case of excessive ambient heat conditions, such as those caused by fire.

Although l have shown a specific construction and arrangement of the parts and features constituting the device, I am fully cognizant of the fact that many changes may be made without effecting the operativeness of the unit, and l reserve the rights to make such changes as I may deem convenient, or necessary without departing from the spirit of my invention, or the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent in the United States is:

1. A cleaning tank for cleaning small parts to prepare them for receiving protective coatings or the like,

said tanks comprising a fluid receiving portion,

cover means for closing over and covering said fluid receiving means,

hinge means for attaching said cover means to said fluid receiving portions, said hinge means enabling said cover to be held in an unrestrained open position under the influence of gravity, and

means comprising a spring biased sliding rod attached completely and exclusively to the top side of said cover for automatically closing said cover means beyond the point where it is held open by the influence of gravity and to a point where it closes under the influence of gravity, said rod sliding under the influence of said spring responsive to ambient heat condition above a certain level, whereby the access to said fluid receiving portion is completely free and clear of all obstruction from said closing means including said sliding rod.

2. The cleaning tank of claim 1 wherein said means for automatically closing said cover comprises,

biasing means including said spring and rod for normally forcing said cover to close, and

heat responsive means for neutralizing said biasing means to enable said cover to remain open until the ambient heat conditions reach the certain level.

3. The cleaning tank of claim 2 including cover actuating means including said rod, said cover actuating means being operated responsive to the biasing spring being held in an unstrained condition for actuating said cover to close, and

means including said heat responsive means for maintaining said biasing spring in a strained condition until the ambient heat condition reaches the certain level at which said heat responsive means enables said biasing spring to return to the normally unstrained condition.

4. The cleaning tank of claim 3 wherein said cover actuating means comprises said rod means, extension control bracket means fixedly attached to said rod means and contiguously associated with said biasing spring so that said rod means normally prevents said cover from remaining open, and

means including said extension control means for attaching said heat responsive means to said rod means to hold the rod means positioned so as to enable the cover to remain opened until said ambient heat conditions reach said certain level. 5. The cleaning tank of claim 4 including cover support bracket means to su port said cover in the open position.

6. A cleaning tan for cleaning small parts to prepare them for receiving protective coatings or the like,

said tanks comprising a fluid receiving portion, cover means, hinge means for attaching said cover means to said fluid receiving portion, cover support bracket means to support said cover in the open position,

means for automatically closing said cover means responsive to ambient heat condition above a certain level, said means for automatically closing said cover comprising biasing means for normally forcing said cover to close, and heat responsive means for neutralizing said biasing means to enable said cover to remain open until the ambient heat conditions reach the certain level, said automatic closing means comprising cover actuating means operated responsive to the biasing means being in an unstrained condition for actuating said cover to close,

means including said heat responsive means for maintaining said biasing means in a strained condition until the ambient heat condition reaches the certain level at which said heat responsive means enables said biasing means to return to the normally unstrained condition,

said cover actuating means further comprising rod means,

extension control bracket means fixedly attached to said rod means and contiguously associated with said biasing means so that said rod means normally prevents said cover from remaining open,

means including said extension control means for attaching said heat responsive means to said rod means to hold the rod means positioned so as to enable the cover to remain opened until said ambient heat conditions reach said certain level, and

a pair of yoke means slidably supporting said rod means on said cover,

means for mounting said spring on said rod between a first of said pair of yoke means and said extension control means to cause said rod to normally extend beyond the hinge end of said cover,

said cover support bracket means being positioned to interfere with said extended rod thereby preventing said cover from being in the open position.

7. The cleaning tank of claim 6 wherein said heat responsive means comprises a fusible link, and

said link including restraining means for maintaining said rod in a retracted position with said spring means in the strained condition.

8. The cleaning tank of claim 7 wherein tongue means are provided on said cover, and

said restraining means comprising aperture means at opposite ends of said link for receiving said extension control means and said tongue in the oppositely disposed apertures to maintain said rod means in the retracted position.

9. The cleaning tank of claim 8 wherein said rod is disposed on the topside of said cover, wherein said tongue is disposed on the bottom side of said cover, and a cover aperture for enabling said extension control means to extend through said cover to be received by said link means on the bottom side of said cover. 

1. A cleaning tank for cleaning small parts to prepare them for receiving protective coatings or the like, said tanks comprising a fluid receiving portion, cover means for closing over and covering said fluid receiving means, hinge means for attaching said cover means to said fluid receiving portions, said hinge means enabling said cover to be held in an unrestrained open position under the influence of gravity, and means comprising a spring biased sliding rod attached completely and exclusively to the top side of said cover for automatically closing said cover means beyond the point where it is held open by the influence of gravity and to a point where it closes under the influence of gravity, said rod sliding under the influence of said spring responsive to ambient heat condition above a certain level, whereby the access to said fluid receiving portion is completely free and clear of all obstruction from said closing means including said sliding rod.
 2. The cleaning tank of claim 1 wherein said means for automatically closinG said cover comprises, biasing means including said spring and rod for normally forcing said cover to close, and heat responsive means for neutralizing said biasing means to enable said cover to remain open until the ambient heat conditions reach the certain level.
 3. The cleaning tank of claim 2 including cover actuating means including said rod, said cover actuating means being operated responsive to the biasing spring being held in an unstrained condition for actuating said cover to close, and means including said heat responsive means for maintaining said biasing spring in a strained condition until the ambient heat condition reaches the certain level at which said heat responsive means enables said biasing spring to return to the normally unstrained condition.
 4. The cleaning tank of claim 3 wherein said cover actuating means comprises said rod means, extension control bracket means fixedly attached to said rod means and contiguously associated with said biasing spring so that said rod means normally prevents said cover from remaining open, and means including said extension control means for attaching said heat responsive means to said rod means to hold the rod means positioned so as to enable the cover to remain opened until said ambient heat conditions reach said certain level.
 5. The cleaning tank of claim 4 including cover support bracket means to support said cover in the open position.
 6. A cleaning tank for cleaning small parts to prepare them for receiving protective coatings or the like, said tanks comprising a fluid receiving portion, cover means, hinge means for attaching said cover means to said fluid receiving portion, cover support bracket means to support said cover in the open position, means for automatically closing said cover means responsive to ambient heat condition above a certain level, said means for automatically closing said cover comprising biasing means for normally forcing said cover to close, and heat responsive means for neutralizing said biasing means to enable said cover to remain open until the ambient heat conditions reach the certain level, said automatic closing means comprising cover actuating means operated responsive to the biasing means being in an unstrained condition for actuating said cover to close, means including said heat responsive means for maintaining said biasing means in a strained condition until the ambient heat condition reaches the certain level at which said heat responsive means enables said biasing means to return to the normally unstrained condition, said cover actuating means further comprising rod means, extension control bracket means fixedly attached to said rod means and contiguously associated with said biasing means so that said rod means normally prevents said cover from remaining open, means including said extension control means for attaching said heat responsive means to said rod means to hold the rod means positioned so as to enable the cover to remain opened until said ambient heat conditions reach said certain level, and a pair of yoke means slidably supporting said rod means on said cover, means for mounting said spring on said rod between a first of said pair of yoke means and said extension control means to cause said rod to normally extend beyond the hinge end of said cover, said cover support bracket means being positioned to interfere with said extended rod thereby preventing said cover from being in the open position.
 7. The cleaning tank of claim 6 wherein said heat responsive means comprises a fusible link, and said link including restraining means for maintaining said rod in a retracted position with said spring means in the strained condition.
 8. The cleaning tank of claim 7 wherein tongue means are provided on said cover, and said restraining means comprising aperture means at opposite ends of said link for receiving said extension control means and said tongue in the oppositely disposed apertures to maintain said rod means in the retracted position.
 9. The cleaning tank of claim 8 wherein said rod is disposed on the topside of said cover, wherein said tongue is disposed on the bottom side of said cover, and a cover aperture for enabling said extension control means to extend through said cover to be received by said link means on the bottom side of said cover. 